Municipal Services

Garbage & Recycling

We are pleased to announce that Garbage Bag Tags, Open-Air Buring Permits(aka Fire Permit), and Animal Tags can be purchased online directly through our website.

Online purchases can be made using visa, Mastercard, or Interac Online banking.

As an alternative to purchasing online, please note that services can also be purchased directly at the Municipal Office.

If you need any assistance, you can contact us at 705-752-1410 x221.

Click here to view or download the 2023 Recycling and Garbage Schedule

Urban Recycling and Garbage Area Map

Callander’s waste material is dictated by the Municipal Waste Management by-law 2017-1522.    

Waste material is handled in the following ways:

  • Household Waste
    Collected weekly by GFL (Green For Life) for processing at the Merrick Landfill Site in North Bay. Please see the following link for answers to What Goes Where
  • Recyclables   2023 Bi-weekly curb-side recycling schedule
  • Curb-side collection every two weeks for processing by the City of North Bay. The Municipality provides households with one free blue box. Additional blue boxes can be purchased at a fee of $10.00 + HST. 
  • Hazardous Wastes
    Callander residents drop off at the Hazardous Waste Depot in North Bay

Please note that there is no municipal dump in Callander. Residents are requested to use the Merrick Landfill Site off Highway 11 North on Sand Dam Road in Merrick Township. Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 7:30am – 5pm; Saturday 8am – 5pm; Sundays – Only summer months (Victoria Day to Thanksgiving) 12pm – 4pm. For more information, please visit: https://www.cityofnorthbay.ca/cityhall/department/environmental-services/merrick-landfill/.

The Municipality’s cost for garbage is largely determined by the weight of the waste. For this reason, all Callander residents are urged to minimize their garbage and help keep the community clean. The Municipality encourages participation in the following initiatives:

  • Recycling
    Put recyclable materials in the blue boxes, for bi-weekly, curb-side collection. Accepted recyclables.
  • Composting
    Composting bins are readily available for purchase at hardware stores. One third of household garbage is estimated to be compostable.
  • The “4R Approach”
    Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair as much as possible.
  • Hazardous Material
    Dispose of hazardous material regularly, at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot.
  • Spring & Fall Cleanup
    Each spring and fall, Callander residents are offered opportunities to dispose of unwanted items, according to a list of accepted objects. Information about spring and fall cleanup is posted in the News and Alerts on the Municipality’s website and Facebook page.
  • Pitch In
    The Pitch In Community Cleanup involves millions of Canadians in local projects focused on cleaning-up, restoring and/or preserving the environment. Callander community members get together once a year to clean up beaches, neighbourhoods and public outdoor spaces. For more information, visit the Events page.

Garbage Pick Up Schedule


Residential urban: Tuesday commencing at 7:00 am

Residential rural: Friday commencing at 7:00 am

Contractor: GFL - Green For Life
Phone: (705) 472-1768

Municipal Waste Management By-Law No. 2017-1522


Collection Requirements: All waste set out for collection must be in a covered container and must be bagged so as to prevent loose waste. Waste and recycling must be set out for collection no earlier than 7:00 pm the day before collection and removed by 9:00 am on the day following collection. Property owners will be responsible for cleaning up any spilled materials and/or waste promptly.

Collection limits: Collection of waste will be restricted to 3 containers per week for residential and 6 containers per week for commercial. There will be no changes to the waste and recyclable materials collected or the scheduled dates and/ or time for collection.

Bag Tag Program: Residents will have the option to purchase garbage bag tags when additional collection is required. Garbage bag tags will be available at the Municipal Office at a cost of $3.00 per tag.

Curbside Recycling Bi-Weekly Schedule: 2023 Bi-weekly curb-side Recycling Schedule

Accepted Recyclables – Blue Bin System

Plastic Food & Beverage Containers:  All plastic containers (#1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). This includes plastic egg cartons, plastic muffin containers, tubs and lids, and all small mouth plastic containers. All containers must be less that 5L in size.
NOT ACCEPTED: Styrofoam TM, plastic bags and film, bubble wrap, plastic planting trays, plastic toys, lawn furniture, motor oil containers and gas cans, plastic cutlery, coat hangers, binders, lawn edging.

Aluminum:  Only clean items are accepted. Place loosely in the Blue Box. Empty aerosol cans and empty dry paint cans are now recyclable. Paint can lids must be placed in the Blue Box separately from the can.
NOT ACCEPTED: Paper-backed foil (e.g. lids from take-out food), foil laminates (e.g. potato chip bags).

Glass Bottles and Jars:
All food and beverage glass bottles and jars are accepted, including coloured glass. It is not necessary to remove labels. Place loosely in the Blue Box. Remove and recycle metal lids and plastic lids.
NOT ACCEPTED: Medication bottles, light bulbs, window glass, mirror glass, crystal, drinking glasses, ceramics (e.g. plates, mugs).

Food and Beverage Containers:
All aluminum and steel cans are accepted. All Polycoat cartons (e.g. milk, juice) and Tetra Paks (e.g. drink boxes) are accepted. Remove and discard straws.
NOT ACCEPTED: Do not include full cans or cans containing hazardous materials. These items should be taken to the HHW Depot at 112 Patton Street.

Newspaper and Mixed Paper:
Place the following items either inside or beside the Blue Box:
Newspaper: Including all inserts and flyers. Remove and discard plastic bags.
Mixed Paper: Phone books, junk mail, magazines, catalogues, office paper & envelopes (window & regular), paper bags, and other items that are paper. Staples need not be removed.
NOT ACCEPTED: Waxed or foil-coated paper, potato chip bags, coffee cups, styrofoam, paper that is soiled with food or grease.

Boxboard and Corrugated:
Corrugated cardboard: Flatten and tie in bundles measuring no larger that 75 cm x 75 cm x 20 cm (30” x 30” x 8”). Place bundle(s) beside Blue Box. Use string or twine to tie bundles, not wire.
Boxboard: Cereal, pasta, laundry, and shoe boxes, etc. Remove liners/windows and flatten boxes. Do not mix with newspaper and mixed paper. Bundle with corrugated cardboard.
NOT ACCEPTED: Frozen food boxes that have a wax coating, boxes that are heavily soiled with food or grease.

Recycling is picked up every second week. Please sort and rinse out your recyclables before putting them at the curb.

Recyclables placed in plastic bags, cardboard boxes, recycling totes, carts with wheels or any container or tote that isn’t a standard Blue Box design will not be picked up. Recyclables must be placed in a standard Blue Box, which has a specialized lip that attaches to the recycling truck. These standard boxes can be purchased for $10.00 + HST each at the Municipal Main Office at 280 Main Street North.